I miss you Hope

I miss you my dear Hope.

men walking outside our window

Yes, you guessed it, men walking on the outside of our window. We have had our building wrapped in scaffolding all summer. In this picture they are taking down the structure, very scary to watch.

my first day of retirement

We had only an extreme noise warning that this destruction was coming on Tuesday morning. When I stepped out of my apartment the guy on the ladder was blocking the door. Honestly I felt like I was in a movie. I rushed to get a camera and right after this shot was taken the battery in the camera died. And so the first tension filled day of my retirement began.

I'm feeling lazy

I want to thank my hands for 17 years of service. They often worked steadfastly side by side sharing the load. On the left we have the dominant hand but that hand refuses to take any unearned praise from the right hand. They are not a fidgeting, nervous or jealous pair, they have been seen folded into each other during long meetings.
I honor them highly for their handy work: cleaning, clapping, stickering, stamping, fronting, hand wringing, hand writing, hand stamping, hand holding, nail clicking, nail biting, finger wagging, shelf tagging, punch the clock, place the product, pick up the phone, paddy cake...?
They both were my best friends and assisted me when I was too tired to think. My hands agree it’s time to kick up my feet and unleash the un-heeled dogs to reveal their shinning happy soles.
Robyn Flatley

“Daddy’s in the hospital”

Mommy’s in the kitchen baking up a storm. The oven is red hot. Her sweat sizzles on the stove top. “Does Daddy like hot cross bums?” I whimpered. “Sweetheart get me the honey!” Big sister grabbed a honey bear laced with ants. I sneezed. Mommy’s in the kitchen and Daddy’s in the hospital waiting for a doctor. My sister flicked an ant at me. Daddy’s doctor is in the kitchen kissing mommy on the mouth. I sneezed louder. Why is Grandma in the kitchen making baked potatoes? They smell yummy but where is mummy?

Plum Island morning 2009

Plum Island 2009

My new love

okay this really cute Kill Bill, ahem, killdeer was romancing me. HOnestly- didn't know if it was a male or female. For those of you who are squeamish about the girl on girl thing you may need to avert your eyes- and close your minds too. I know that's a heavy burden but I will post pictures of the love that did transpire.
while I was in a love trance there were some fucking bugs taking an ounce of flesh from my leg. I have a huge bruise and a terrible rash to prove it. I pulled up my pant legs and dozens of little black thingys fell down into the mud. but I gotta say the love that was witnessed by me was worth all the terror and illness I must go through-christ please don't let it be Lymes disease...please.
I've got clay on the wound and my heart belongs to the Killdeer. Paul got jealous, that's how hot and heavy it got.

Short cut to hell

Short cut to hell

I hang on
a silver thread
my squeaky inhale
tweaky knee
gimpy hip
this body trip

I took a short cut to work and as my right hand held the wobbly rail my foot slipped on a wedge of ice. wrenched my arm and bruised my kidney as my body slammed into the edge of the cement sidewalk. frick! hell of a short cut.

Eagle cloud

Broken Spring

oh the wind is keening
howling in my bones
screaming all night long

oh my heart is breaking
muscle and blood pumped
an aching in my breast

oh my tears are running
salty rivers filled with pain
a muted cry within me now

yea a few pounds of bones
feathers that once were proud
her call an inner echo

New Hampshire Eagles 2.21.09

So where is the female eagle? She was not spotted today, Sunday Feb. 22. The male was seen near the Vernon Dam. Is she all right or has she succumbed to her injury?
In this photo there are three eagles in the trees. They appear as dots: the larger dot on the left is an immature (could be this pair's offspring) and on the right are the pair of eagles. Wish I could have gotten a better photo. Right after I took this photo the mature eagles joined the immature and the female made quite a ruckus as she tried to land on the branch. The male landed on a lower branch and sidled over toward the immature. Shortly after the immature eagle flew away.

Our female looks ragged and injured while the male looks at her with what looks like concern. He has been a faithful bird: staying by her side.
I have great hopes that she will recover.

Inspired by my dear sister Betsy

“All judgment reveals itself to be self-judgement in the end, and when this is understood a larger comprehension of the nature of life takes its place.”
Dr. David Hawkins

Winter Wind warning

Old Man winter's
Breath, held frozen
Was let loose

Cumulonimbus mamma
Ran over mountains
To the east


Altostratus translucidus
Low and sexy
Rubbed mamma

Fully exhausted
The old man
Inhaled

livingroom blurrrrrrrrrrr

another sleepless night of art and glass

Eighth Vigil

Eighth Vigil

Quietly I honor ‘Himself’
both our hearts broken;

dad’s beloved wife
cast him out at death

my beloved mother
cast out me at birth

her madness began with my first breath
she sunk into a schizoid delusion after his last

he begged to come home to die
gone were his home and daughters

mom held in lock down ward
whispering to her voices about dad

his lungs filled, heart seized
I keened


my saint
of St. Valentines Day

Dad's St Valentines day death

every year
since my father died
I hold in my heart
a quiet vigil of his
broken heart, he died
as his beloved wife cast his memory
into the dust, she had moved on
sinking into a schizoid delusion
of glamor, fame and honor
he waited till the very breath in his body gave up
lungs filled and heart seized
we, his five daughters wailed
I keened loudly
my heart broken
as well by that woman
my mother,
I hold him sacred
my saint of St. Valentines day

Winter

Winter of 2009

Fire under Wolf Moon

The L-Block burns

Stepping up to an emotional tension, I've stretched myself thin.

The night of the blaze I walked streets filled with slush, a steady stream of water, and ice. The police cars strobed till I thought I might have a seizure. Fire and ice.. wasn't that in the bible? Vapor clouds of cremated cats, lead paint, baseball cards mixed with baby's clothes drifted by. We inhaled memories. Tired firemen decked in heavy suits and oxygen tanks climbed up slippery ladders into pink smoke.

One tiny wrapped cylinder of tobacco.

I rose and my heart shuddered with adrenaline remembering how fire, as barbed cat tongues, licked us clean.

We come in naked and by god we go out the same.

wave nymphs ride

gale winds and water two of my favorite elements.

Wave mania on Cape Ann

During our vacation there was a huge low off the coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The thunder of fifteen foot waves rocked our world.
The two shadows on the rocks are- you guessed it!

Night of Pink Glass & Light

Night of Glass & Light

my granddaughters

my hair

searching for a home

I've been searching for a home I can call my own.

Plum Island waves 2008

Storm low off the coast created six to ten foot waves.

Plum Island beach 2008

my cheeks burned
of halo glow
I love you
of that I know


Photo from our trip to Plum Island, Ma. One of the warbler boardwalks is named Hellcat. Every morning we made haste to Hellcat. In total we saw 98 species of birds.


I took a class on bird banding and watched as a Common Yellow Throat was delicately untangled from a mist net. My group observed the handling, measuring of wings, breast checking for fat, metal banding and then the release of the tiny warbler. I kept wondering if I would be uncomfortable with this type of handling from a another species/entity.

We drove to the end of the island and walked the beach- a Plover was sending out an alarm call as she circled her nesting area. We kept our distance but with the aid of binoculars we got to see her digging in the sand and possibly depositing eggs.



Our shadows lay
within the night
small white feathers fell gently
from our invention
wings of wax, string and molted bits
divinity chose us
after the dazzling play of light
we became, become, becoming
neatly folded into one

http://www.parkerriver.org/

Every year during the migration of birds, especially warblers, we take our vacation on or near Plum Island. Last year we saw over 120 birds- so you see this year the count was down. This year we stayed for 10 days- which is absolutely the longest we have done yet. I would like to work ourselves up to a month. I may have to wait till my retirement. During this time we live, eat, dream and follow the winged ones.
This year there where two storms that created huge wind gusts and large waves. So the birds hunkered down or didn't fly in. They fly with a south wind and mostly at night. We were blessed with a few days of warblers: Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Northern Parula, Yellow, Yellow-rump,Chestnut-sided, Black-and-white, and American Redstart.

reality poetry

Vt. mother evades rescuers, and 3 die


Rescuers use poles to look under rocks and in hidden pockets in the Wardsboro Brook in Wardsboro, Vt. Sunday April 13, 2008 during the search for Grace Waring, 2, who disappeared with her Mother Nicole Waring, 40, of Wolcott, Vt. and sibling Dakota, 6, Saturday. The bodies of Nicole and Dakota were found in the Wardsboro Brook, Saturday, after Nicole jumped into the water when approached by a Vermont State Trooper. Rescue agencies from throughout Vermont were actively involved in the search. (AP Photo/Jason R. Henske)
~~~

mommy
I lost my shoes
my toes are cold
I'm tired
sing me a lullaby
monster undertoad
is hungry
he pulls my feet
mommy
my legs hurt
I'm afraid
mommy
I spy baby Grace
rolling away
look mommy
my eyes are open
under water
~~~
In the wee hours
of mourning
daddy embraced
baby clothes
~~~


Friday, April 18
JAMAICA -- A Wardsboro man who capsized his kayak in the West River Thursday afternoon is still missing after several hours of searching by authorities.
Rescue workers search for...
David Holcomb, 24, was kayaking on the river with Matt St. Peter when both their kayaks capsized after leaving the Jamaica State Park, according to a press release from Detective Lt. Kraig LaPorte with the State Police.

The Jamaica Fire Department responded to a report of a person in the West River north of the French Bridge on Gilfeather Road at approximately 4 p.m. Search efforts were soon initiated by the fire departments of Wardsboro, Townsend and Brattleboro and Rescue Inc.

The search efforts were concentrated on the section of the river from the location where the victim was last seen in West Townshend, according to LaPorte. At roughly 8:30 p.m., authorities suspended the search efforts on account of darkness.

State troopers continued to conduct patrols along the river area throughout the night and into the early morning, when formal search efforts will resume.

After their kayaks overturned, the two men became separated from their kayaks and began floating down the river. According to the police

report, St. Peter eventually lost sight of Holcomb, whose kayak was found two miles south of the Volunteer Bridge toward Wardsboro.
St. Peter was able to work his way to the river's edge and climb out of the water with only minor injuries from contact with debris in the river. Sources at the scene said St. Peter had cuts on his chest and was offered medical assistance.

Troopers patrolling the area came across St. Peter walking along the south end of the river bank.

According to the release, neither was wearing a lifejacket during the incident, however each had one in his kayak.
~~~
I tucked my life jacket
held the paddle steady
foamy water rose
while river, my love,
embraced me
~~~

silence
breath held out
sewing needles
dart off the darn water
my brow knits
I inhale
pine needle's
hot perfume

exquisite beauty
stings my eyes
~~~
I am the rock
singing all night
with water's rising song

I gave you shelter
your delicate fingers
pressed into my folds

a moment's rest

I watched you taken
by river's flow
as water gave you
one last drink
~~~
your blond hair matted
half moon smile
frozen
river's wake takes you
I follow
we lay
on the small round rocks
breathless
~~~
Police investigating body found floating in West River
Reformer Staff

Saturday, May 3
BRATTLEBORO -- Brattleboro Police are investigating the death of a white male pulled out of the West River Friday afternoon.

The Brattleboro Fire Department's Dive Team was on scene and pulled the body out of the water, as the rain began to fall, after a preliminary investigation from the Police Department and the State's Attorney's Office.

"The body was very close to shore, in approximately 21/2 feet of water," Fire Chief Mike Bucossi said.

Two firefighters put on cold water exposure suits to retrieve the body, following directions from the Police Department and State's Attorney's office to remove him without disrupting any evidence.

Detectives placed evidence flags along the path, leading to the water, between the Veteran's Bridge and the railroad bridge, taking photos.

The man, whom police would not identify until the family was notified, was brought to the Burlington medical examiner by Ker-Westerlund & Fleming Funeral Home.

Workers at the scene refused to comment, directing all queries to Acting Police Chief Gene Wrinn.

"It's an active investigation," Wrinn said. "There are no obvious signs of foul play, but the white male is being
transported for an autopsy."

He expected to release more information Monday.

~~~
Spring’s River Revenge

Did you rumble
down the river-
tumble over the
dam,
water logged
swollen
sullen

an afternoon's lark
of picking until dark-
fiddle heads delight
then nothing went right
river's tongue snapped
saliva’s foam lapped

Did you rumble
down the river-
tumble over the
dam,
water logged
swollen
sullen

fiddle heads pressed tight
into frozen hands all night
one hundred miles North
family searched forth
upon friday’s frightening sight
you bobbed in afternoon daylight

Did you rumble
down the river-
tumble over the
dam,
water logged
swollen
sullen

white male found
keening wail went round

still the chocolate river yawns
over yellow waving lawns
~~~

Search for Missing Kayaker Suspended


Bradford, Vermont - May 2, 2008

Poor water conditions mean that authorities in Vermont and New Hampshire temporarily suspended the search a missing kayaker in the Connecticut River.

Robert Swantak, 58, of Bradford, set out Thursday to pick fiddleheads along the river's edge but he never returned. Authorities spent most of the day Friday searching the Bugbee Boat Launch in Bradford where Swantak first put in. The Bugbee launch is on the Waits River which feeds into the Connecticut. Swantak's kayak was found on the Connecticut River about four miles downstream. It was overturned with a life jacket attached to it.

"Concentrations would be with the currents that we had (Thursday), would be where the Waits River meets the Connecticut River as well as had he been able to get any distance up the Connecticut River trying to cross from the Vermont side to his destination on the New Hampshire shoreline," explained N.H. Fish & Game Lt. Todd Bogardus.

Authorities say that the river is at flood stage and is just 46 degrees. Swantak is an experienced kayaker but not a very good swimmer.